Article of furniture having folding legs



Jan. 27,1970 H. P. GLASS 3,491,706

ARTICIlEfOF FURNITURE HAVING FOLDING LEGS Filed Feb. 1, 1968 2 SheeES-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HENRY P. GLASS Jan. 27, 1970 H. P. GLASS ARTICLE OF FURNITURE HAVING FOLDING LEGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1968 FIG. 4.

FIG. 5. 2s 38 47 INVENTOR HENRY P. GLASS AGT.

United States Patent 3,491,706 ARTICLE OF FURNITURE HAVING FOLDING LEGS Henry P. Glass, Chicago, Ill. (P.O. Box 52, Northfield, Ill. 60013) Filed Feb. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 702,250 Int. Cl. A47b 3/06 US. Cl. 108-125 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A table comprises a table top and legs which fold to one position wherein they lie adjacent the edges of the table top and in the same plane as the table top and which unfold to a position wherein they are transverse to the table top. The table top has a hole in an edge near one corner into which there extends a projecting means which is attached to the side of a leg. The hole is provided by the end of a hollow tubular member which is afiixed to the table top and defines a table top edge. A combined collar and locking means is rigidly secured in the hole for cooperation with the projecting means. Spring biasing means connected between the collar and the projecting means bias the projecting means into a position wherein it engages the locking means to effect locking of the leg in folded or unfolded position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to articles of furniture, such as tables or the like, which have a table top or other supporting surface member and folding legs. More particularly, it relates to articles of furniture wherein legs fold to a position wherein they lie in the same plane as the supporting surface member.

Many types of tables having folding legs are Well known and available. In some, the legs fold against the bottom side of the table top but this arrangement makes for clumsy stacking and requires additional storage space. In others, such as conventional card tables, the legs fold into a recess in the bottom side of the table top but the means for hinging, bracing and locking the legs in folded and unfolded position are very often complicated and tend to be obtrusive and in the way when the legs are unfolded. It is desirable, therefore, to provide improved tables having folding legs which overcome the aforesaid disadvantages and have other advantages.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a table comprising a supporting surface member or table top and a plurality of folding legs. Each leg is provided near its upper end with a projection which extends from the side of the leg into an opening provided in the edge of the supporting surface member or an opening provided by the end of a hollow tubular member which defines another edge of the table top. Spring biasing means tend to urge the leg toward the edge of the table top and the projection into the opening wherein it engages the sides of the opening to lock the leg in its folded and unfolded position. In folded position the leg lies in the same plane as the table top and adjacent the edge of the table top.

OBJECTS It is an object of the present invention to provide improved articles of furniture having supporting surface members and folding legs wherein the legs lie in the same plane as the supporting surface members when the legs are folded.

Another object is to provide articles of furniture of the aforesaid character which have improved means for attaching the legs to the supporting surface member and for locking the legs in folded and unfolded position.

Another object is to provide articles of furniture of the aforesaid character wherein the legs, when unfolded, do not project beyond the edges of the supporting surface member.

Another object is to provide improved leg attachment and locking means which are unobtrusive, relatively simple to fabricate and use, and which are very compact.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a table having two surfaces that may be used as top surfaces, and where the legs may be unfolded in two directions to use either surface as the top surface.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate two preferred embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that the embodiments illustrated are susceptible of modifications with respect to details thereof without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a table in accordance with the present invention and shows its legs in folded position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but shows the table with its legs in unfolded position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a table in accordance with the present invention and shows its legs in folded position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the hinge, support and lock mechanism for one leg of the table shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 55 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 designates an article of furniture, such as a table, in accordance with the present invention. Table 10 comprises a supporting surface member or table top 12 and four folding legs 14, 16, 18 and 20 which are shown in folded position in FIG. 1 and in unfolded position in FIG. 2. In folded position the legs 14, 16, 18 and 20 lie adjacent their respective side edges of table top 12 and also lie in the same plane as the table top. Preferably, the width of the side 22 of leg 14 is the same as the thickness of the table top and the other legs 16, 18 and 20 are similarly dimensioned.

Table top 12 of table 10 comprises a central section 23, preferably made of wood, which has first side edges 24 and second side edges or end edges 25. In accordance with the invention table top 12 is provided near each corner defined by the intersection of the first side edges 24 and the second side edges 25 with an opening such as 28 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which extends into the table top from first side edge 24. As FIGS. 4 and 5 show opening 28 is the end opening of a hollow tubular member 30, preferably metallic, which is rigidly attached to central section 23 of table top 12 to define the end edge 25. However, tubular member 30 could be omitted and opening 28 could be made directly into central section 23 of table top 12.

For purposes of discussion only leg 14 and its associated components will be described hereinafter, but it is to be understood that legs 16, 18, and 20 are similar in construction and mode of attachment and operation with respect to table top 12.

Leg 14, which supports its appropriate corner of table top 12, is provided near its upper end with a rigidly attached or integral projecting means 32 which extends at right angles from side 33 of the leg. The legs 14 may be swung to operative position either downwardly as shown, or in the opposite direction so that both surfaces of the article of furniture may be used as table tops.

Projecting means 32, which is adapted to be inserted into opening 28, comprises a first portion 34 which has a square configuration and a second portion 36 which is cylindrical. First portion 34 of projecting means 32 is adapted to cooperate with a locking means 38 which is secured in opening 28, as hereinafter described. Second portion 36 of projecting means 32 extends through and is rotatable with respect to a collar 40 which is secured in opening 28. In practice collar 40 and locking means 38 are preferably formed as an integral member as shown in FIGS. 4 and but it is to be understood that they could be separate components. Locking means 38 has a configuration which is complementary to that of first portion 34 of projecting means 32 and cooperates therewith when leg 14 is in folded or unfolded position to maintain the leg in that position. Spring biasing means in the form of a coiled compression spring 42 is mounted on second portion 36 of projecting means between collar 40 and means such as a flange -44 on projecting means 32. C01- lar 40 and its integral locking means 38 are rigidly secured in opening 28 by means of a screw 46 which extends through a hole 47 in the wall of tubular member of table top 12.

'Leg 14 of table 10 operates in the following manner. Assume, first, that leg 14 is in folded position as shown in FIG 1 and as shown in a phantom view of FIG. 5. In folded position, side 33 of leg 14 lies 'adjacent edge 24 of table top 12 and biasing spring 42, exerting its force between collar and flange 44, maintains it in that position. Pivotal rotation of leg 14 is prevented because of the engagement of square portion 34 of projecting means 32 with the rigidly mounted locking means 38 in opening 28.

To pivot leg 14 to unfolded position, it is necessary to manually pull the leg outward from edge 24 against the bias of spring 42 until portion 34 of projecting means 32 is fully disengaged from locking means 38, i.e., to the position shown in FIG. 5. Leg 14 can then be rotated 90 counterclockwise (with respect to FIG. 1) to the position shown in FIG. 2. Leg 14 is then released so that biasing spring 42 can draw the leg and its projecting means 32 into a position wherein portion 34 again engages with locking means 38 thereby preventing unintentional rotation of the leg.

To pivot leg 14 back to folded position, the procedure discribed hereinbefore is followed.

Referring to FIG. 3, numeral 50 designates another table in accordance with the present invention. Table 50 is similar to table 10 insofar as the attachment, folding and locking mechanism shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is concerned. However, table 50 comprises a central section 52 and is provided with four hollow tubular .members, 54, 56, 58 and 60 at its four side edges. Accordingly, each tubular member 54, 56, 58 and 60 in table 50 accommodates only one leg 62, 64, 66 and 68 respectively, whereas in table 10 each tubular member accommodates two legs. Thus, in table 50 each leg folds and unfolds in a plane which is at right angles to the planes in which the two adjacent legs pivot. As FIG. 3 shows, the end of each tubular member terminates at an edge of central section 52. Consequently, when each leg is unfolded and locked in place, as shown in connection with leg 64, the outer sides 70 and 72 of the leg are flush with the outer sides of the tubular members 58 and 56, respectively. This is advantageous, for example, because the unobtrusive legs then permit a table cloth to drape evenly. Furthermore, users of the table would not bump the leg tops near the table edge.

Having now described my invention with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, I do not wish to be im t d he e o, but What I de ire o p o e by Let- 4 ters Patent of the United States is set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In an article of furniture,

a supporting surface member having first and second side edges which intersect to define a corner,

said member having an opening extending thereinto from one of said edges near said corner,

a leg located near said corner for supporting said member,

said leg having a folded position wherein it lies adjacent said one edge and having an unfolded position wherein it is transverse to said member,

said leg having a thickness which is the same as the thickness of said supporting surface member, locking means located in said opening,

projecting means on said leg for insertion into said opening,

said projecting means having a first portion for cooperation with said locking means to lock said leg in folded and unfolded positions,

and biasing means within said opening for urging said first portion of said projecting means into engagement with said locking means,

said leg being manually movable against the urging of said biasing means to effect disengagement of said first portion of said projecting means and said locking means whereby said leg is pivotable to folded or unfolded position.

2. An article of furniture according to claim 1 including a collar which is rigidly secured insaid opening, wherein said projecting means has a second portion which extends through said collar, and wherein said biasing means is located between said collar and said second portion.

3. An article of furniture according to claim 2 wherein said second portion of said projecting means is provided with a flange and wherein said biasing means is a coiled compression spring mounted on said second portion of said projecting means between said flange and said collar.

4. An article of furniture according to claim 2 wherein said locking means and said collar are integral.

5. An article of furniture according to claim 2 wherein said collar is maintained in position by a screw which extends into said opening through the edge of said supporting surface member.

6. An article of furniture according to claim 1 wherein said supporting surface member comprises a central surface section and a hollow tubular member connected thereto which defines said second side edge and said opening is provided by the end opening of said hollow tubular member.

7. An article of furniture according to claim 6 wherein said supporting surface member comprises a central surface section and each side edge of said member is defined by a hollow tubular member connected thereto.

8. An article of furniture having a table top and folding legs, said table top having two sides adapted for use as a table top, and folding legs pivotally movable into unfolded positions of use in two directions to permit use of both sides of said table top.

9. In an article of furniture,

a supporting surface member having first and second side edges which intersect to define a corner, said member having an opening extending thereinto from one of said edges near said corner,

a leg located near said corner for supporting said member,

said leg having a folded position wherein it lies adjacent said one edge and having an unfolded position wherein it is transverse to said member,

a collar of square configuration rigidly secured in said opening,

projecting means on said leg for insertion into said 5 6 said projecting means having a first portion of square References Cited configuration for cooperation with said collar to lock UNITED STATES PATENTS said leg in folded and unfolded positions, said projecting means having a second portion which 210,156 11/1878 Schultes et a1 X extends through said collar, 5 347,446 8/1886 Stech han 28799 X and biasing means within said opening for urging said 1,039,986 10/1912 Memtt X first portion of said projecting means into engagement 1,976,031 10/1934 Loy/embers 10812 with said collar 2,921,825 1/ 1960 Sp1egcl 108125 X said biasing means being located between said collar and FO G PATENTS Sald secmd 10 169,119 2/1951 Austria.

said leg being manually movable against the urging of said biasing means to eflect disengagement of said JAMES T, M CALL P i E i first portion of said projecting means and said collar whereby said leg is pivotable to folded or unfolded US Cl. X.R.

position. 15 1O81516; 248188.6; 287-99 

